Rethinking Life

Rethinking A Fly Ball

noreply@blogger.com (Jay D'Ambrosio) — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 01:08:00 +0000

My seven year old son, Jack, is nearing the end of his first season playing baseball for the "Washington Nationals." He was blessed this year with a wonderful coach who both encouraged and challenged him to become a better player. He found himself surrounded by teammates who eventually became good friends. He proved himself to be a solid hitter, but one thing he really wanted to do was catch a fly ball. This had eluded him throughout the season. There was the game against the Cubs, when he almost caught one hit high in the air, but it tragically bounced right out of his glove.

This past week, Jack and I practiced catching fly balls over and over. I would launch a ball high in the air and he would attempt to catch it...with mixed success. Saturday afternoon finally arrived, his game against the Mets. Just prior to the game, I asked him how he was feeling about his catching. To tell the truth, he began to get pretty down on himself, questioning his ability in the outfield. Not sure what prompted this negativity, I questioned him, but he was in no mood to talk about it.

When we arrived at the park (a bit late) we learned that our team would be in the outfield first. Jack was assigned to the position of short stop. Literally, two or three batters into the other team's line up, a fly ball was hit high into the air and was coming down toward Jack. "This was his moment!", I thought to myself. Jack quickly moved underneath the ball as it descended back toward earth. He raised his glove. The ball landed right...on the top of his head! Stunned, he looked around for a moment and then went after the ball, now on the ground. Being a concerned father, I immediately called out to see if he was ok. If you are a parent, you'll know the sick feeling you get when you see your child get hurt. The coach ran over to Jack to check on him as well. He seemed to be fine. When he came into the dugout, I checked...rechecked...and checked again. I had visions of taking him to a concussion clinic, head injuries, etc. He was fine, fully coherent, just frustrated. He wanted to stay in the game.

I've got to admit, I glanced up into the sky and muttered to myself, "Way to dash a boy's dreams." I really wanted Jack to catch that ball. He worked so hard, and I thought it would be a perfect way to teach him a lesson about "the value of practice" or some other virtue. Would he be afraid of going after a high ball now? What kind of lesson would he learn from that? If you try you'll get popped in the head??? Oh well. In the whole scheme of things, what would this matter? Sometimes life can be hard to explain. There are much more important issues out there. Right?

Well, in the final innings, Jack found himself manning third base. I was hot and tired and longing to see this game wrapped up. Suddenly, a batter hit a big fly ball high into the air! It was coming down near third base! Jack quickly moved into position. I wondered if he would be a little hesitant to get under the ball due to the mishap that had happened earlier. He wasn't. The ball landed right...in his glove! The crowd erupted! He had caught his fly ball! A few plays later, a teammate threw the ball to Jack who caught it and tagged out the runner at third, ending the game and ensuring a Nationals win.

Wow. This story captures a little bit of our own stories, doesn't it? How many of us have been whacked on the head by a fly ball? Stunned by a turn of events? How many of us are fearful of putting ourselves in a situation where we have been hurt before? If this quick glimpse into Jack's story tells us anything, it is that facing our fears and trying again is something that brings life. Like John Wayne once said, 'Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway." Jack later confessed that his "legs were shaking" when he moved under the fly ball.

We all are faced with a choice. To try again after being hurt the first time. This applies to sports, your career, love, and myriad other things in life. Putting yourself out there one more time, putting your heart on the line, that can make all the difference in the world.

I think I was actually the one who learned something precious that day. I'm not in control. I can't keep the people I love from getting hurt. It happens. I'm not writing the story...and that's a good thing. The story I would have written would have been much smaller, less compelling, less rich with meaning. The story I would have written would have been less dangerous and much less interesting. I'm reminded all the time that I need to take heart, for things are already in motion that we have yet to see.

Play ball!

Rethinking Cortez the Killer

noreply@blogger.com (Jay D'Ambrosio) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 17:28:00 +0000

Recently, I've been listening to a song by Neil Young called "Cortez the Killer." I've always loved the song. Sometimes I come back to a song and listen to it over and over. When that happens, I know there's something there that I need to pay attention to.

Historically speaking, the song is very inaccurate. Neil Young tells the story of Hernan Cortez and his exploits in the New World. Let's look at the lyrics and see what unfolds...

He came dancing across the water
With his galleons and guns
Looking for the new world
In that palace in the sun.

On the shore lay montezuma
With his coca leaves and pearls
In his halls he often wondered
With the secrets of the worlds.

And his subjects gathered ’round him
Like the leaves around a tree
In their clothes of many colors
For the angry gods to see.

And the women all were beautiful
And the men stood straight and strong
They offered life in sacrifice
So that others could go on.

Hate was just a legend
And war was never known
The people worked together
And they lifted many stones.

They carried them to the flatlands
And they died along the way
But they built up with their bare hands
What we still can’t do today.

Ok...let's try to unpack this. When Cortez arrived in the New World, the Aztecs were very much the dominant civilization in Mexico. However, the historian in me cries foul when the song goes on to say that "hate was just a legend" and "war was never known." The Aztecs were imperialists. They conquered many civilizations and tribes throughout Mesoamerica. Their practice of human sacrifice was horrific and brutal. During the Aztec reign, thousands died upon the spectacular heights of blood-stained pyramids.

There, I've had my say. My inner historian has been satisfied. However, I'm starting to think that Neil Young may have been talking about something else, something wearing an Aztec guise. I think he may have been lamenting the loss of paradise.

There's something inside us all that has this vague sense that things are not as they are supposed to be, isn't there? It's hard to put your finger on though. It's not as if I can look back on my life and say there was a time when everything was perfect (i.e. hate was just a legend, war was never known). I'm guessing you can't either.

When I see a friend struggling because a loved one was just diagnosed with a terminal disease or when I watch someone's marriage self-destruct, I think to myself, this isn't supposed to turn out like this. When I see a fellow human being who has obviously been living on the streets, unwashed, and babbling incoherently, a part of me cries out...how far we have fallen from our previous glory! When I see a childhood stolen by parental neglect or alcohol, my heart breaks. Things are not they way they should be!

How do we know that...deep down?

And I know she’s living there
And she loves me to this day
I still can’t remember when
Or how I lost my way.

Something at least to wrestle with this holiday season.

He came dancing across the water
Cortez, cortez
What a killer.

“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. - Genesis 3:4
What a killer.

You can listen to Cortez the Killer here. I'd like to hear your thoughts or comments.

Rethinking Photons

noreply@blogger.com (Jay D'Ambrosio) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 04:22:00 +0000

Things can't be in two places at once. Right? Well, quantum physicists are saying that on an unbelievably small scale that might not be true. You see...I've been hooked on a fantastic series on the Science Channel called Through the Wormhole narrated by Morgan Freeman. I'd highly recommend setting your DVR to record the show. It will open your eyes and your mind to possibilities that are both amazing and unsettling.

Recently, I watched an episode of Through the Wormhole that described an experiment involving photons. For those of you who are not followers of Stephen Hawking, light is made up of both particles and waves. Photons are individual particles of light. The experiment demonstrated was known as the "double slit experiment." An individual photon was fired at two slits in a screen to see which slit it would "choose" to pass through. Being one particle, it can only go through one slit or the other...right? Not so fast.
Somehow the single photon particle passes through BOTH slits at the SAME TIME! How is this possible? What's even more baffling is that when we attempt to set up monitors to detect how this is happening...it stops happening! The photon, when being watched, will behave itself and only go through one slit. This almost reminds one of a mischievous child who does what is expected only when an adult is watching. Wow! Reality is much more mysterious than we can imagine. It almost seems playful, doesn't it?

It is interesting that the double slit experiment demonstrates what I can only describe as the "playfulness" of a particle of light (if I may anthropomorphize a photon). Symbolically, in myth and story, light has always been identified with playfulness and spontaneity. The Swedes referred to a spot of reflected light that seemed to dance across a room as a "sun cat." If you have a cat, as I do, you'll understand how playful the feline species can be! When one watches light reflecting off a pool of water to dance upon the surrounding walls can catch a bit of the photonic joy.

There is a term for this behavior. The word "mercurial" describes someone who is ingenious, playful, unpredictable, or thievish. The word is associated with the god Mercury (the Greek Hermes) and the planet closest to the Sun (light). It is interesting that in the Book of Genesis, the first words attributed to God are "Let there be light." Light is fundamental it seems to creation, to the Cosmos.

Some scientists will probably admit that they feel as if they are being "played with" when conducting the double slit experiment. Matter (a light particle) by itself cannot be described as playful. The term really is only appropriate to describe a personality. This begs the question, who is playing with the scientists?

As I reflect upon what I've learned, I'm encouraged by the idea that at the core of reality, as exhibited by particles of light, there is a playfulness, a joy, a Personality. It's strange, but I see this when I come to a stop light and it seems to take forever to change to green. The moment I take out my "smart" phone to make good use of the down time to check an email or send a text, the light changes almost immediately. I've got to smile. I'm being played. It seems like a sense of humor may exist at the core of all things too...and it's good.

Watch a video about the double slit experiment below!

Rethinking Those Who Wander

noreply@blogger.com (Jay D'Ambrosio) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 17:54:00 +0000

This weekend we had the opportunity to visit our nation's capital, Washington D.C. What an incredible trip! We saw the Washington Monument, a memorial to George Washington, the first president of the United States. The monument style, known as an obelisk, goes back to the ancient world. To the Egyptians, it represented the intimate and mystical union between the Earth (Geb) and Sky (Nut). Later, the Freemasons adoped the symbol for their own use. It can still be seen marking Masonic tombs around the world.

Yesterday, however, we took somewhat of a detour. We traveled by ferry to the town of Alexandria, Virginia, a town that was surveyed by the then seventeen year old George Washington. There were quaint, little, shops by the dozen scattered throughout the town. Tourism had obviously become quite a boon for the local community.

As we walked, I noticed a street performer. Having just visited Washington, D.C., seeing a street performer was not all that unusual. My initial thought was, wow, what a hard way to make just a little bit of money. Another hard luck case. However, as I looked at this man's face, it seemed different. He played his guitar with a passion, that caused me to stop in my tracks. The joy that radiated from his face was contagious. He looked right at me and smiled. I couldn't help but smile back. He played a song I remembered from my childhood, from the band "America." He sang powerfully, "O, Oz never did give nothing to the Tin Man, that he didn't, didn't already have."

It made me think... What did Oz give to the Tin Man that he already had? Oh that's right...his heart. I think this man of the street gave me a little bit of my heart back yesterday. As I turned to leave, I looked back once more. I saw a sticker on his guitar case that read,

"Not all who wander are lost."

How true.

Rethinking Fresh Air

noreply@blogger.com (Jay D'Ambrosio) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 03:27:00 +0000

The Fresh Air Fund, an organization dedicated to bringing urban kids into a direct experience with the great outdoors, is looking for counselors for its summer program. Take a moment and consider supporting this worthy endeavor.

Learn more.

I've learned that taking some time out of our busy schedules to bring joy to another ends up being worth whatever sacrifices we make to see it happen.

Rethinking the Story

noreply@blogger.com (Jay D'Ambrosio) — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 07:59:00 +0000

My sons and I just finished setting out "reindeer food" for Rudolph and his eight compadres, when I happened to look up at the night sky. The rain had stopped, leaving a clear, cloudless sky full of stars. Beautiful...

Let's switch gears for a moment. Why do we celebrate Christmas? What is its purpose? As most would probably acknowledge, it commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. Was Jesus born on Christmas Day? The answer is unequivocally no. The ancient scriptures point to a date closer to early Spring.

Why then was December 25th selected as the day to mark the birth of the Christ? Here's why...

Since the Autumnal or Fall Equinox, the days have been getting shorter and shorter. December 21st, the Winter Solstice, marks the darkest day of the year. The days remain in that darkness for approximately three more days. Then, on December 25th, the sun moves one degree higher, heralding the lengthening of the days. So in a very real and a very symbolic sense, light is being born into a world of darkness.

Think about it for a moment. What better day to choose?

Let me go back to the reindeer food. When I looked up at the night sky, I immediately noticed the three star belt of the constellation Orion. Actually, the three pyramids at Giza in Egypt are patterned after the three stars! The Great Pyramid of Khufu, the pyramids of his son Khafre, and his grandson Menkaure, are aligned to match the three stars with incredible precision.

Thus, the three stars are sometimes referred to as the "Three Kings." On December 24th, Christmas Eve, the "Three Kings" line up with a star low in the sky called Sirius. It is the brightest star in the night sky this time of year.

Follow me now, the "Three Kings" follow the "star in the east" or Sirius. They line up and point to...

The place where the sun rises on December 25th.

The birth of light into this dark world. What a powerful image to be woven into the heavens!

So as I clean up the reindeer food and tuck my sons into bed, I'm reminded that we are a part of a much bigger story than any of us realize.

Good night. Oh...and Merry Christmas!

Rethinking the Natural World

noreply@blogger.com (Jay D'Ambrosio) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 03:00:00 +0000

A recent survey apparently showed that children in our modern society are beginning to "lose touch with the natural world." It seems that very few young people were able to identify even common animals. Only two out of three children ages 9-11 were able to identify a frog. How did this happen???

Sometimes we lose the things that are truly precious...slowly. We get busy. We get distracted with the cares of this world. We gradually exchange the things that are magnificent and magical for the things that are profitable and practical.

Remember, this is the season of Hope. There is a great program available to the youth of New York City called the Fresh Air Fund. The Fresh Air Fund provides the opportunity for inner city students to experience the great outdoors. What a gift!

Watch the video below. If a picture says a thousand words, then a video should say about a million! Please consider supporting this effort to broaden the horizons of our nation's most valuable natural resource...our kids.

Rethinking Treasure Hunts

noreply@blogger.com (Jay D'Ambrosio) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:20:00 +0000

Last week, my family and I went to Amelia Island, Florida for a relaxing vacation. The days were spent floating in the soothing waves of the Atlantic, collecting shells along the beach, swimming in the resort pools, and hunting for treasure. Hunting for treasure? Yes...treasure hunting!

We went out to walk along the shore during the final night of our vacation. I had told the boys earlier in the day that Pirates sometimes come out at night to bury their gold! Being five and three, they were ecstatic! What the boys didn't know was that I had buried several piles of "pirate coins" along the way...each marked with an "X." When the boys saw an X with their flashlights, they would scream with excitement and run to dig up the treasure. You would have thought they won the lottery! Watching the joy they were experiencing filled me with that sense of wonder that I thought I had lost all those years ago. That night the boys fell asleep on a pullout bed with dreams of pirate treasure and the waves of the sea floating through their innocent minds.

As we grow older, the mystery and excitement of life seems to fade, doesn't it? An "X" in the sand of the shore is simply...a letter. The joy we once felt at the discovery of something new is swept away by the cares of this world. Sometimes I wonder if we as adults have it all wrong. Maybe my sons are the ones who have figured out the secret to life. What do you think?

Rethinking Coldplay II

noreply@blogger.com (Jay D'Ambrosio) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:49:00 +0000

No I don't wanna battle from beginning to end I don't want a cycle of recycled revenge I don't wanna follow death and all of his friends. - Coldplay

I couldn't have said it better myself...

Does anybody have any thoughts on these lyrics from "Death and All of His Friends?"

Rethinking Coldplay

noreply@blogger.com (Jay D'Ambrosio) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 06:10:00 +0000

I finally picked up a copy of the new Coldplay CD, Viva La Vida. I've always enjoyed the way Coldplay starts a song slow and mellow and then allows it to rise to a powerful and emotional crescendo. I tend to find one or two songs on an album that really speak to me and listen to them over and over again. The lyrics to the song Viva La Vida have been drawing my attention lately. It's a good idea to pay attention to the things you pay attention to. The lyrics are below...

I used to rule the world Seas would rise when I gave the word Now in the morning I sleep alone Sweep the streets I used to own I used to roll the dice Feel the fear in my enemies eyes Listen as the crowd would sing: "Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"

When things are going well in our lives, we feel like we are on top of the world. We feel invincible. But, when adversity rears its ugly head, we suddenly feel helpless. The earth quakes beneath our feet.

One minute I held the key Next the walls were closed on me And I discovered that my castles stand Upon pillars of salt, and pillars of sand

"My castles stand upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand." Adversity makes us look beneath our "castles" to see what under girds them. What are the castles in your life? Your career? Your looks? What are the things that define who you are? Are they what is most true about you?

I'll write more about this song later...it's getting late.

Rethinking Challenges II

noreply@blogger.com (Jay D'Ambrosio) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 18:20:00 +0000

As many of you know, I have been participating in the National Advisory Board for O2Max Fitness, an organization in Santa Monica, CA, that is dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles among teens in the area and around the country. This summer, O2Max Fitness will be offering opportunities for teens to get into shape over the summer, including:

Six-week summer fitness camp for teens
Beat the Freshman Fifteen program
Sunday workouts in the park
Pre-season high school sports program

Remember, your mind, spirit, AND body are integral parts of who you are. We need to be mindful of each part of the whole. Don't miss these great offerings! Even if you don't live in the Santa Monica area, you can still participate in O2Max Fitness online.

Rethinking Paths

noreply@blogger.com (Jay D'Ambrosio) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 03:12:00 +0000

Yes there are two paths you can go by... - Led Zeppelin

The more I think about it, the more I realize that our every thought, word, and action brings us one step further down a road that leads to either life...or destruction. Do your thoughts dwell on the negative? Are you consumed with worry or fear? Anger perhaps? Those are all normal emotions depending upon various life circumstances, so look at patterns in your thought life over a period of time. Are your thoughts leading to life or to destruction?

But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart... - Matthew 15:18

Pay attention to the words you speak. Do they encourage others or do they spread doubt and fear? Do your words bring people together or do they sow division?

What do your actions tell you about the road you're on? Are your actions destructive? Take a moment to reflect upon what you do. Play your actions out over the course of time. Will they lead to blessing and life or will they lead to death? So often we cruise through life without ever considering where we are headed. There is hope in all of this though. It's not too late.

...but in the long run, there's still time to change the road you're on - Led Zeppelin

Rethinking the Abyss

noreply@blogger.com (Jay D'Ambrosio) — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:09:00 +0000

It is by going down into the abyss that we recover the treasures of life. Where you stumble, there lies your treasure. - Joseph Campbell

This quote has been on my mind as of late. We all have an abyss of sorts, don't we? Some dark place that we know exists, but we fear going down there. Could it be that our darkest abyss is in fact a doorway that opens to a world we were made for?

We tend to view our abyss as our destruction, but in reality, it may lead to our salvation. What do you think?

Rethinking Pets

noreply@blogger.com (Jay D'Ambrosio) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:59:00 +0000

Perry Farrell, the former lead singer of Jane's Addiction, wrote a song years ago entitled "Pets." I happened to hear it again on XM radio the other day. The song itself pokes fun at our seeming inability to manage our lives, as well as our knack for destroying ourselves and our world. Some of the lyrics are explicit (inappropriate lines have been omitted), but the key lines are shown below:

will there be another race to come along and take over for us?
maybe martians could do better than we've done
we'll make great pets!
my friend says we're like the dinosaurs only we are doing ourselves in much faster than they ever did
we'll make great pets!

I know the song was meant in jest, but it got me thinking...(which is sometimes a dangerous thing :) What are some characteristics of a pet? Do you think we would "make great pets?" It sounds like a strange question, but stay with it. It may reveal some important insights about what it means to be human.

Rethinking Challenges

noreply@blogger.com (Jay D'Ambrosio) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:12:00 +0000

As human beings, we are made up of body, mind, and spirit. Sometimes we devote our energy and time to building our minds, but neglect our bodies. Often, we exercise the body, but forget the mind and spirit. To be whole, we need to care for all three areas of our existence. O2 Max Fitness, an organization I support in Santa Monica, California, is doing some great things to encourage teens to take a more active role in their own health and fitness.

O2 Max Fitness will be sponsoring "O2 MAX PROM /SUMMER SHAPE-UP CHALLENGE: A 3-month fitness challenge designed to get teens looking and feeling great just in time for Prom and Summer season." Plus, you'll have the chance to win some terrific prizes for prom. And the best part is that you don't have to live in Santa Monica to enter - all you have to do is go to their Web site, enter "The Challenge," then download the workouts each week and blog about your progress on the O2 MAX site. You can find more information about The Challenge on their website at
www.O2MAXfitness.com.

Rethinking Prince Harry

noreply@blogger.com (Jay D'Ambrosio) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:55:00 +0000

A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man. - Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces

This afternoon, news broke on the Drudge Report that Prince Harry has been serving with British troops in Afghanistan, and has even taken part in gun battles (photos). The young prince is third in line to the throne of the English monarchy. I remember reading news stories about his intention to serve in Iraq, and the ultimate decision to keep him out of combat due to fears that al Qaeda or an insurgent group would attempt to kill or kidnap the prince. Why would someone with so much to lose enlist in the fight against a deadly and ruthless foe? The answer has its roots deep in the masculine soul...

To some of my female readers, this may seem like machismo, but there is a ferocity, a wildness, and need for battle that surges just beneath the surface of man's outer life. In our modern, civilized world, men tend to feel, well...tame. If you have ever watched a tiger pacing back in forth in a cage at a zoo, you'll get a tiny inkling of what many men feel on a daily basis. There is a boredom that comes from feeling trapped in the machine of the average life. They wake up in the morning, go to work, manage accounts, try to keep the peace in their families, and after watching the news, fall asleep and dream about adventure.

Every man (and woman) experiences a call to adventure, to set out on a journey that will test our beliefs and our limits. Whether we accept the call or bury our hearts in the monotony of busyness makes all the difference in the world. Prince Harry has embarked on his own Hero's Journey. It may cost him his life, which would devastate a family that has already suffered much grief. I ask you, though, what is the alternative to following your heart?

When you have a moment, read The Initiation of Perseus.

Rethinking Music

noreply@blogger.com (Jay D'Ambrosio) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:34:00 +0000

Music is powerful...isn't it? It has the ability to stir our souls in ways few things can. Like story, music is another language of the heart. It conveys truth in a way that is once beautiful and powerful.

The New York Philharmonic recently had the opportunity to play in Pyongyang, North Korea. The communist North Korea, sometimes referred to as the "Hermit Nation," is one of the most closed societies on our planet. Inside this tiny country, the views toward the West range from suspicion to hostility. The video clip below shows American musicians playing alongside their North Korean counterparts in a wonderful display of harmony and grace.

Truth and beauty, carried along by music, can penetrate even the most closed system. What a powerful metaphor for what can happen in our own lives and hearts when we open up to the beauty that is all around us. Opening up is a risk, but one that can change things in ways you never dreamed possible!

Rethinking Starbucks

noreply@blogger.com (Jay D'Ambrosio) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:21:00 +0000

Myth and symbol surround us. Echoes of the ancients still ring in our modern ears. The yearning for the spiritual and mystical is ingrained in our hearts, despite our immersion in the modern, secular, world. Let's look at an example...

Starbucks has been in the news quite a bit lately. Reported layoffs, financial woes, and temporary store closing Tuesday, have caused people to question this powerful Seattle coffee icon. The Starbucks logo is one of the most familiar corporate images anywhere in the world. What most coffee-drinkers don't know is that this mysterious female image depicted on the logo has its roots in the ancient past.

To better understand what we're talking about, it would be helpful to take a look at the evolution of the Starbucks logo over the years. Here is the current logo:

Here is the logo as it used to appear:

Here is the original logo pre-1987:

The image shown is that of a mythical mermaid-type creature, known as a melusine.

A melusine is a figure of European legends and folklore, a feminine spirit of fresh waters in sacred springs and rivers.

She is usually depicted as a woman who is a serpent or fish (much like a mermaid) from the waist down. She is also sometimes illustrated with wings, two tails or both, and sometimes referred to as a nixie (source: Wikipedia).

Here are some examples of the melusine from the past. If you look carefully, I'm sure you'll see the resemblence to the current Starbucks logo. The legend of the melusine was first told in 1394 in France. Take a moment and read the tale for yourself. Here is a collection of mermaid/melusine legends from across Europe, compiled by a University of Pittsburgh professor.

Myth and symbol are all around us...

Rethinking Eclipses II

noreply@blogger.com (Jay D'Ambrosio) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 17:05:00 +0000

As I stood outside in the freezing cold winter night, staring up at the night sky, I came to a profound realization. Even though science clearly explains the cause of a lunar eclipse, it can never explain away the mystery and awe of experiencing one. Watching the moon slowly being overcome by the shadow of the Earth briefly reminded me of just how small we are. We go about our days, consumed with our worries and cares as if they were the center of the universe. I think it is good to be reminded that our little stories are a part of a much larger story. On a heart level, it gives us a different vantage point (if only for a moment) from which to view our existence.

View some fantastic photos of the lunar eclipse from around the world!

And still more...

Rethinking Antarctica

noreply@blogger.com (Jay D'Ambrosio) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:59:00 +0000

Out of whose womb came the ice?, And the hoary frost of Heaven, who hath gathered it? The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen. - Job 38:29-30

It's been called a barren wasteland of ice and snow. The Antarctic explorer, Douglas Mawson, once wrote, "We had discovered an accursed country. We had found the Home of the Blizzard."

As with any story, however, things are not always as they seem...

Apparantly, scientists have discovered that beneath the waters of the frozen wasteland exists a wonderland of life. Amazing and mysterious new life forms have been found in the icy depths, including giant sea spiders and huge worms.

See a photo gallery of these amazing new animals!

Rethinking Eclipses

noreply@blogger.com (Jay D'Ambrosio) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 05:02:00 +0000

Both lunar and solar eclipses were viewed in ancient times with a mixture of fear and superstition. The shadow of the Earth passing over the moon often gave an ancient viewer the impression that the moon was being swallowed or eaten by a great serpent. The ancients could predict eclipses, but had no real understanding of why they occurred. It was truly a time of mystery and magic.

Read an interesting article regarding the February 21st reappearance of a lunar eclipse that allegedly saved the life of Christopher Columbus over five hundred years ago.

The video below explains the science behind a lunar eclipse.

When can you see Wednesday's lunar eclipse? Click your time zone below:

Eclipse Diagram for AST (Atlantic Standard Time)
Eclipse Diagram for EST (Eastern Standard Time)
Eclipse Diagram for CST (Central Standard Time)
Eclipse Diagram for MST (Mountain Standard Time)
Eclipse Diagram for PST (Pacific Standard Time)
Eclipse Diagram for AST (Alaska Standard Time)
Eclipse Diagram for HST (Hawaiian Standard Time)
Eclipse Diagram for GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)
Eclipse Diagram for GMT +1 (Greenwich Mean Time + 1 Hour)
Eclipse Diagram for GMT +2 (Greenwich Mean Time + 2 Hours)

View a chart detailing lunar eclipses to come over the next few years.

Rethinking Apocalypto

noreply@blogger.com (Jay D'Ambrosio) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 19:13:00 +0000

I finally got around to watching Apocalypto last night. As an ancient history teacher, I immediately noticed several historical inaccuracies, however, the story ultimately captured me. Looking at the story through the lens of myth and ritual masculine initiation, it was very powerful.

Jaguar Paw, the Mayan hero, is taken against his will from the wildness of his jungle home, by an invading horde, and sets out on a forced journey to be sacrificed. One by one, the men chosen for the ritual Mayan sacrifice are dragged through a corrupt and chaotic Yucatan city. They are marched to the top of the pyramid and their hearts are cut out and offered up to the Mayan gods.

Civilization does this to the masculine soul, doesn't it? It civilizes a man and in essence, rips his heart out. Just like Jaguar Paw, we need to risk the pain, the wounds, and death to flee the things in life that kill our hearts. His heart was in the deep forest, his heart was with his wife and sons. The journey revealed the true meaning of his name, Jaguar Paw. Though dead, he united with his father in spirit and became one with the wild. The symbols and story were very powerful and bore real substance.

Rethinking Chaos

noreply@blogger.com (Jay D'Ambrosio) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 05:32:00 +0000

We plan and prepare, control and design, and still something goes wrong. Something ends up backwards. We plan a wonderful family outing, and then someone gets sick. A marathon runner paces his race perfectly, finds himself in a position to win, then slips and falls on the finish line. We invade a nation in order to free its people from the grip of tyranny, only to realize that they don't want us there. You arrange for a lovely, romantic evening for two, and then a bitter argument ensues. We try to bring a little bit of order to the chaos in our lives and the chaos always seems to break loose and we end up with an inverted night sky. What is going on here anyway? Could we be missing something? The answers may be all around us in plain sight.

Download a copy of Jay D'Ambrosio's new eBook for only $0.49 from Amazon.com.

Rethinking Book Signings

noreply@blogger.com (Jay D'Ambrosio) — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 03:36:00 +0000

Saturday, February 9th, 2008 I'll be doing a book signing and giving a brief talk at Barnes & Noble in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. The topic of my discussion will be making meaningful connections with adolescents through story.

You can purchase a copy of Rethinking Adolescence: Using Story to Navigate Life's Uncharted Years (Rowman & Littlefield Education, 2006) here.

Get directions to the Barnes & Noble in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania.

Rethinking Unresolved Issues II

noreply@blogger.com (Jay D'Ambrosio) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 20:11:00 +0000

Ajax went to his doom, his ire toward Odysseus unquenched and issues unresolved. Death appears indiscriminate at times, not caring whether a person has made peace with others in his or her life. Death takes those who are in harmony with others and also those who are not. A student might be angry with a person for dying. The goblins that can plague a teen who has experienced a death under these circumstances are known as Bitterness and Resentment.

This can be particularly difficult in cases of suicide or drug overdose—situations that could have been avoided. But whatever the circumstances, the question remains, Can the living make peace with the dead?